NEW YORK — The meteoric rise of Yankees infielder Yangervis Solarte from career minor-leaguer to productive major-leaguer continued Wednesday night.

Solarte, who toiled in the minors from 2005 thru 2013 and was signed by the Yankees as little more than an afterthought last January, blasted a solo homer and scored a run in the Yankees’ 4-0 victory over the Mets at Citi Field.

It was yet another superlative night for Solarte, who entered the game with an American League-best .336 average and a .414 on base-percentage, which is third in the AL and ninth in the majors.

Solarte, who was with the Minnesota Twins (2005-11) and Texas Rangers (2011-2013) organizations, raised his team-high RBI total to 23, the second-highest total for a rookie in the majors behind Jose Abreu (38) of the White Sox.

"He just keeps thrilling us all in a sense," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He made a great play at third base today for us, too, a really, really great play. His at-bats continue to be good. He just continues to impress us."

When told that he was leading the American League in batting, the engaging Solarte playfully cringed and begged the media not to tell him that, feeling he would be jinxed.

"I don’t want to know that," he said. "If you love playing, you don’t worry about the numbers. You see the (big) screen. It’s so horrible. I just want to play, play."

The 26-year-old Venezuelan native, who remains low in the batting order despite his offensive prowess, drew a walk in the first inning and scored when Brian Roberts tripled – his first of two.

In the fourth inning, Solarte, who stretched his hitting streak to nine games, hit a 93-mph fastball from Mets starter Rafael Montero (0-1) for his home run, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead. It was his fourth of the season.

"I’m so excited," said Solarte, who went 1-for-3. "It’s more important for me that we win. (The Subway Series) is different. I like the Subway Series."

Girardi has resisted the urge to move Solarte higher in the lineup. He usually hits between seventh and ninth although he’s batting .375 (12-for-32) with four doubles, two home runs, and 20 RBI with runners in scoring position.

"We’ve kind of kept him where he’s at," Girardi said. "We’re six weeks into the season. He’s been really successful. I’ve hit him sixth sometimes. I have him seventh tonight. We always talk about order, but right now that’s where I have him."

That Solarte is in the majors, let alone starring for the Yankees, is a feel-good story of perseverance. In six seasons with the Twins, he never advanced pass Double-A ball.

In 2011, he signed with the talent-rich Rangers. He played two seasons with the Rangers’ Triple-A club but was stuck behind All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre and second baseman Jurickson Profar.

Late in spring training, it appeared unlikely Solarte would make the Yankees’ major-league roster. He competed with Eduardo Nunez, Zelous Wheeler, Dean Anna and Scott Sizemore for an infield reserve role.

But he beat out Nunez for the final roster spot.

Then, after a rash of infield injuries, Solarte got his opportunity. He began getting regular at-bats and earned the starting job at third, unseating Kelly Johnson.